For 50 years, Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop has stood out in fast-casual franchising through quality products, strong unit-level economics, and a brand experience built to be remembered. For franchise partners, that means the best of both worlds: the credibility of an established name and the upside of untapped markets still wide open for growth.
1. A Kitchen Built Differently
Fast casual is often defined by speed, convenience, and streamlined assembly. Those qualities matter, but they can also leave less room for the hands-on preparation that gives a restaurant its identity.
That’s why Capriotti’s takes a different approach. While the operational model is designed for convenience, the menu is built around quality ingredients that create a memorable food experience.
Whole Butterball® turkeys, fresh-made coleslaw, and flat-top-grilled hot subs are just a few of the details that help distinguish Capriotti’s within the traditional QSR landscape. The brand’s supply chain also makes it possible to bring premium ingredients such as Snake River Farms® American Wagyu in a category where that level of sourcing is uncommon.
2. Rooted in Legacy, Built to Evolve
Capriotti’s differentiation goes beyond individual ingredients. Signature sandwiches such as The Bobbie® bring the brand’s history to life through a product guests can immediately recognize. Inspired by a family recipe, they are a long-standing part of what makes Capriotti’s memorable.
At the same time, the menu continues to evolve alongside consumer demand. Capriotti’s builds on its signature offerings through premium ingredients, new flavor combinations, and menu innovation designed to keep the brand relevant without losing the products and traditions at its core.
For Capriotti’s franchise partners, a recognizable, story-driven product gives built-in customer trust from day one, cutting down the time it typically takes to build awareness in a new market. Ongoing menu innovation, meanwhile, gives guests fresh reasons to keep coming back.
3. Numbers That Beat the Benchmark
A strong franchise opportunity has to give operators a foundation for sustainable growth, not just an appealing story. With strong unit-level performance and a lean cost structure, Capriotti's backs that foundation with data:
Average unit volume across all locations reached $848,013 in 2024*
Top 25% of locations averaged nearly $1.27 million in annual sales as of December 2024**
Prime costs average about 53%, roughly 10% below the industry benchmark
Together, these figures point to a model designed to support franchise partners at the unit level while creating a stronger foundation for long-term, multi-unit growth.
4. Established, but Not Saturated
Marking its 50th anniversary in 2026, Capriotti’s enters its next chapter with decades of operating history and meaningful room for expansion. Its growth strategy focuses on building regional density in markets where the brand already has traction, operational support, and nearby consumer awareness.
Capriotti’s combines a distinctive product, disciplined unit-level performance, and a development strategy built around sustainable regional growth, and that balance is difficult to find. Few fast casual concepts can point to all three while still offering access to emerging and underdeveloped markets.
Explore available territories and learn more about building a Capriotti’s franchise in your market!
FAQs About the Capriotti’s Franchise Opportunity
Q: What makes Capriotti’s different from other sandwich franchises? Capriotti’s combines fast-casual convenience with premium ingredients and signature products that have developed a loyal following over the brand’s 50-year history, creating a distinct position within the QSR category.
Q: What kind of support will I receive as a new franchise owner? Capriotti’s provides structured training, ongoing support, and direct access to our development team that supports site selection, design, and construction. Our team partners with you before, during, and long after your grand opening.
Q: What is Capriotti’s “50-50-50” franchise incentive? Capriotti’s “50-50-50” incentive was introduced during the brand’s 50th anniversary year. It offers qualified new franchise partners up to $50,000 in savings through discounted franchise fees and royalties.
* $848,013 is the system-wide average unit volume of all franchised and affiliate Capriotti’s shops in operation for the entire calendar year ending December 31, 2024. The median unit volume of all restaurants is $803,670. A new franchisee’s results may differ from the represented performance. There is no assurance that you will do as well, and you must accept that risk. For information about the financial performance during 2024 of all franchised and affiliate-owned restaurants that operated for the full year see Item 19 of the CSSI Franchise Disclosure Document.** $1,270,078 is the average unit volume of the top 25% of all franchised Capriotti's shops in operation for the entire calendar year ending December 31, 2024. A new franchisee’s results may differ from the represented performance. There is no assurance that you will do as well, and you must accept that risk. For information about the financial performance during 2024 of all franchised and affiliate-owned restaurants that operated for the full year see Item 19 of the CSSI Franchise Disclosure Document.
